Top One Project

Top One Project (abbreviated as T.O.P.) was a Filipino boy band based in the Philippines, originally composed of the grand winners of GMA Network's reality show To the Top — Adrian Pascual, Joshua Jacobe, Louie Pedroso, Mico Cruz, and Miko Manguba.^[1] The group signed under GMA's Artist Center and its label GMA Records after winning the competition in 2015. The group released their debut album digitally on April 28, 2016 with their carrier single, "Pag-gising".^[2]

Top One Project (T.O.P.)
Origin	Philippines
Genres	Pop, OPM
Years active	2015 (2015)–2018 (2018)
Labels	GMA Records
Members	Mico Cruz Joshua Jacobe Adrian Pascual Louie Pedroso
Past members	Miko Manguba
Website	Top One Project

History

2015: To the Top

Main article: To the Top (TV series)

In 2015, GMA Network created To the Top, the Philippines' first multi-platform boy band competition. The competition invited talented male singers from different school organizations nationwide to form the newest boy band sensation. Eighteen contestants went through rigorous training in singing and dancing under The CompanY's Moy Ortiz, Sweet Plantado and OJ Mariano; Sonic State Audio writers and producers Chino David, Brian Lotho, Tony V and Jon Ong; Madelle and Prince Paltu-ob, and Jesse "Reflex" Gotangco of Philippine All Stars; and the Maestro Ryan Cayabyab.^[3]

In the series' finale, Adrian Pascual, Joshua Jacobe, Louie Pedroso, Mico Cruz, and Miko Manguba were named the grand winners and formed Top One Project.^[4] Prior to joining the contest, Manguba, Pedroso and Cruz, are veteran performers in their school glee clubs.^[5] Magbanua serves as the leader of the group.^[6]

2016: Debut album and concert

Top One Project's debut album, T.O.P., was released digitally on April 28, 2016, available on Spotify and iTunes.^[7] Under GMA Records, T.O.P. had the chance to re-record five of the most popular songs from To the Top and an original song for the album. It features six tracks: "Bakit Ganon", "Somebody", "Kaya Ko, Kaya Mo", "Alaala", their original composition, "San Na", and carrier single, "Paggising". Most of these songs are written by known musicians in the OPM industry such as Chino David from Silent Sanctuary and Brian Lotho who are both under Sonic State Audio. "San Na" was an experimental track as the group challenges their skills in writing and music production. Louie Pedroso and Mico Cruz wrote most of the lyrics while Miko Manguba, Joshua Jacobe, and Adrian Pascual focused on the overall sound and arrangement of the song. Physical copies of the album were released on May 14, 2016 and reached the third spot on the Astro Charts for the top-selling OPM albums for the month of May.^[8] Top One Project performed for almost 40,000 people on June 12, 2016 at the Philippine Arena to promote their debut album.^[9]

Top One Project had their first major concert, titled T.O.P. in Concet, on October 28, 2016 at the Music Museum.^[10]

In 2018, Miko Manguba transferred to GMA Records' rival record label, Star Music,^[11] officially announcing the end of the group.

After months on inactivity, the band held their last concert in March.

Members

• Mico Cruz

Mico C. was born Michaelangelo Ramos Cruz on (1995-01-11) January 11, 1995 (age 27)

• Joshua Jacobe

Joshua was born Mark Joshua Marcelo Jacobe on (1994-07-03) July 3, 1994 (age 28)

• Adrian Pascual

Adrian was born Adrian Francisco Pascual on (1998-08-21) August 21, 1998 (age 24)

• Louie Pedroso

Louie was born Leonard Louie Pedroso on (1995-11-21) November 21, 1995 (age 27)

• Miko Manguba

Miko M. was born Jamiko Allan Sabbun Manguba on (1994-04-24) April 24, 1994 (age 28)^[12][13]

Discography

Album

• Top One Project (2016)

Singles

• "Paggising" (2016, Filipino theme song of Pretty Woman)
• "Sa'n Na" (2016)
• "Ikaw Nga" (2017, theme song of Mulawin vs. Ravena)

Other works

• "Ang Pinaka Theme" (Theme song of Ang Pinaka)
• "Pinoy M.D. Theme" (Theme song of Pinoy M.D.)
• "Mag-road Trip Tayo" (Theme song of Road Trip)^[14]

Filmography

Television series

Year	Title	Member(s) and role(s)	Notes	Network
2016	Juan Tamad	Wedding singers	"Juan Gets Married?" episode^[15]	GMA Network
2017	My Love from the Star	Adrian Pascual as Young Winston	Uncredited role
2017	Wish Ko Lang	Adrian Pascual as –	"Nang Matupok ang mga Pangarap" episode^[16]
2017	Magpakailanman	Adrian Pascual as Teban	"Mga Sikreto ng Aking Pamilya" episode^[17]
2017	Magpakailanman	Joshua Jacobe as Mahjie	"Ang Pagmamahal ng Isang Amang Beki: The Jeremy Sabido Story" episode^[18]
2017	Imbestigador	Adrian Pascual as Michael Angelo Remecio	"Sako" episode
2017	Super Ma'am	Joshua Jacobe as −
2017	Wish Ko Lang	Adrian Pascual as –	"Ang Pagbabago ni Avatar" episode
2018	Ang Forever Ko'y Ikaw	Adrian Pascual as Dax and Joshua Jacobe as Jigs	Supporting roles

Other appearances

Members of Top One Project also appeared as guests on various programs produced by GMA Entertainment TV and GMA News and Public Affairs. These programs include GMA Network's Unang Hirit, CelebriTV, Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman, Eat Bulaga!, Power House, AHA!, Sarap Diva, MARS, Sunday PinaSaya, and Wowowin and GMA News TV's Good News. Top One Project also appeared in NET25's Music and Letters in 2016.^[19] Top One Project also appeared as performers of GMA Network's new year countdown specials for 2017 ^[20]

Top One Project also appeared as musical guests in GMA Network's online series Playlist^[21] and GMA Records' Spotlight Music Sessions.^[22]

Accolades

Year	Award Giving Body	Category	Nominee/Nominated work	Result	Source
2016	8th PMPC Star Awards for Music	Duo/Group of the Year	T.O.P.	Won	^[23]
		Dance Album of the Year	Top One Project	Nominated

References

1. Rodriguez, Bea (30 September 2015). "'To The Top' grand winners to modernize Filipino classics and OPM". To the Top - GMA Network Portal. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
2. Policarpio, Allan (6 October 2016). "Good singing not enough to stay in the game, T.O.P. boy band says". INQUIRER.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
3. "GMA Network to launch new boy band through multi-platform program". GMA Network Portal. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
4. Tuazon, Nikko. "Meet GMA-7's To The Top boy band search winners: Adrian Pascual, Mico Cruz, Miko Manguba, Louie Pedroso, and Joshua Jacobe". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
5. Rañoa-Bismark, Maridol (13 October 2016). "This boy band has more than just good looks". philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
6. Donato, Jerry (30 May 2016). "T.O.P.: A new boy band on the block". philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
7. Sun, Cherry (28 April 2016). "GMA all-male group Top One Project releases debut album todays". GMA Network Portal. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
8. Sun, Cherry (1 June 2016). "Top One Project's and Derrick Monasterio's albums rank high in top-selling album charts". GMA Network Portal. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
9. Calingan, Michelle (12 June 2016). "Top One Project performs in Philippine Arena". GMA Network Portal. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
10. Sun, Cherry (2 September 2016). "Top One Project, to hold first major concert". GMA Network Portal. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
11. "GMA-7 boyband member signs contract with ABS-CBN record label". Pep.ph. 22 December 2018.
12. "To the Top - Profiles". To the Top - GMA Network Portal. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
13. "Top One Project - Profiles". toponeproject.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
14. Doña, Catherine. "T.O.P. sings the theme song of 'Road Trip'". gmanetwork.com. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
15. "Juan Tamad gets married?!". GMA News Online. GMA Network, Inc. GMA News and Public Affairs. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
16. "Dalagang naulila dahil sa sunog, bibisitahin ng 'Wish Ko Lang'". gmanetwork.com. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
17. "Magpakailanman presents 'Ang Pagmamahal ng Isang Amang Beki: The Jeremy Sabido Story'". gmanetwork.com. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
18. "Magpakailanman presents "Mga Sikreto ng Aking Pamilya'". gmanetwork.com. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
19. "TOP – Top One Project on Letters and Music". net25.tv. Net 25.
20. "'Lipad Sa Bagong Taon', New Year Countdown ng GMA-7". Balita. Manila Bulettin. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
21. Ligunas, Mary Louise; Samodio, Anica. "'Playlist' feature: Top One Project talks about the perks of being in a boy band". gmanetwork.com. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
22. Ruiz, Marah. "Pinoy boygroup TOP to perform two songs on 'Spotlight Music Sessions'". gmanetwork.com. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
23. "LIST: Winners, PMPC Star Awards 2016 – music". Rappler.com. Rappler. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2017.